Research Projects
Each year, IRDA's R&D Team conducts more than one hundred research projects in sustainable agriculture. What's more, IRDA is working with Quebec's key agricultural stakeholders to find concrete solutions.
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Major Initiatives
Major initiatives (2)Services
Soil health (4) Water protection (2) Air quality (3) Ecosystem protection (2) (2) Fertilizer management (4) Pest, weed, and disease control (31) Organic farming (7)Experts
Investigating key physicochemical and environmental factors that could account for variable lowbush blueberry yields
As part of this project, the soil water status at a chosen blueberry farm will be monitored at 40 spots over the course of the production year. We will seek to identify the relationship between water extraction, physicochemical and environmental factors, and yield levels that could help explain yield variability.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Assessing the economic impact of fungicide resistance in horticultural corps
Project initiated to review the knowledge on the fungicide resistance of various pathogens to provide a preliminary assessment of the economic impacts of fungicide resistance.
Researcher: Luc Belzile
Using carbohydrate-balance bioclimatic modelling to develop carbaryl-free apple fruit thinning strategies
The model’s predictions will be used to calibrate the dose of a thinning agent (ANA) to be applied in two plots, one treated with carbaryl and the other without, over a two-year period.
Researcher: Vincent Philion
Assessing the effectiveness of HARVANTA (cyclaniliprole) in controlling major cranberry pests
This project’s aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of HARVANTA® 50SL to control the cranberry weevil, the blackheaded fireworm and the cranberry fruitworm.
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
Determining the nitrogen contribution of mulch mineralization in highbush blueberry cultivation so that nitrogen fertilizer applications meet crop requirements more effectively
The project measures the nitrogen contribution of sawdust mulch.
Researcher: Christine Landry
Assessing the influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the efficacy of spring flooding as a means of controlling the blackheaded fireworm
This project assesse the influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the efficacy of spring flooding to developp a strategy of control for the blackheaded fireworm
Researcher: Daniel Cormier
Developing transfer tools to promote good integrated pest management practices for Spotted Wing Drosophila
This update will incorporate information from more recent scientific articles on Spotted Wing Drosophila
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
A new molecular approach to simultaneously detect disease-causing viruses in raspberries and strawberries
Developing a fast and sensitive molecular detection methodology able to accurately identify raspberry and strawberry viruses.
Researchers: Richard Hogue Luc Belzile
Using mating disruption to control black headed fireworm and cranberry fruitworm
Development of a mating disruption method to control two cranberry pests.
Researcher: Daniel Cormier
A biological strategy to control obliquebanded leafroller in orchards where a codling moth mating disruption program is underway
Biological control of the obliquebanded leafroller in orchards where mating disruption is being used against the codling moth.
Researchers: Daniel Cormier Gérald Chouinard
Attract-and-kill techniques for monitoring and controlling stinkbugs in Québec orchards
Acquiring the knowledge needed to develop an attract-and-kill treatment to control current and future stinkbug populations in Québec apple orchards.
Researchers: Gérald Chouinard Daniel Cormier
Optimization and use of Virosoft CP4 in a Codling moth control program
Developing a Codling moth control management tool based on an improved formulation of Virosoft CP4.
Researchers: Daniel Cormier Gérald Chouinard
Sustainable control methods for apple pests
This pan-Canadian project conducted in Ontario, Québec, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick focuses on strategies for controlling three key pests in apple production.
Researchers: Daniel Cormier Gérald Chouinard
Developing new shelter systems adapted to organic raspberry production that reduce pest infestations and boost crop productivity and profitability
Design and validation of a new generation of high tunnels with automatic retractable roofs, new roofing materials, and screens that will extend the harvest season.
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
Environmentally sound management of the Spotted Wing Drosophila
This project will formulate multiple independent, but potentially synergistic, strategies to control Spotted Wing Drosophila.
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
The solutions developed by IRDA aim to...
Ensure the sustainability
and quality of soil, water, and air
Protect the health and well-being
of local communities by improving the quality of crop and livestock production, with an emphasis on animal welfare
Safeguard the economic viability
of crop and livestock production